Collapsible stretcher



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 23, 1950 .W a, y W WA w Q a. h 4 Q &\ w w N L M. NW Wm QR \w M m Q Mm AR w m ww 5 7 .w m m was N R \w Q MN May 13, 1952 l. c. KLINGLER 2,596,250

COLLAPSIBLE STRETCHER Filed March 23, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 iglaaianup V B ha 7 flag a? Patented May- 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '(JOLLAPSIBLE STRETCHER .Ira C. Klingler, Elkhart, Ind.

ApplicationlMarch 23, 1950, Serial No. 151,352

same time are capable "of sustaining relatively heavy loads.

Third, to provide a collapsible castor having wheels which may be locked in position to stabilize the structure when it is collapsed.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the stretcher embodying my invention in erected position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stretcher in collapsed position and with the castor wheels locked in their stabilized position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view par tially in vertical section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view partially in section to a line corresponding to the broken line -5--5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on a line corresponding to line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view and partially in section on a line corresponding to line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in horizontal section showing structural details of the running gear frame or chassis.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in section on a line corresponding to line 9-9 of Fig.8.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a running gear frame or chassis designated generally by the numeral l and consisting of longitudinal base members -2, desirably made up of tubing and suitable couplings therefor. These base members are disposed in opposed pairs and have downwardly offset pivot ears 3 at the inner ends thereof receiving the pivot rod 4 which is common to both pairs of pivot ears. The end coupling members 5 of one pair of frame members are provided with V-shaped recesses 6 in their ends receiving the coacting V-shaped projection l of the other coupling members as shown in Fig. 3. The base members 2 are pivoted at 20! to the end cross members 202 which have upwardly projecting leg members 8 and depending socket arms 9 having sockets l0 therein receiving castor spindles ll of the castor wheels I2. The base members 2 and associated cross members 262 in effect form two U-shaped bases that face each other and are pivotally connected at their adjacent ends. The leg members 8 form uprights that pivot with respect to the bases as a whole. These spindles are provided with annular grooves l3 which are engaged by the retaining pins 14, permitting swiveling of the spindles. Each groove, however, is provided with a keeper recess 15 with which the pin may be engaged to lock the spindles against rotation. The pins are provided with biasing springs IS and have stem portions ll provided with grips l8. Stops 19 hold the pins in position permitting swiveling of the castor wheels. The grips have openings 20 which receive the stops, permitting the pins to engage the keepers, thereby locking the castor wheels against swiveling movement.

The top members, designated generally by the numeral 2|, comprises U-shaped border frames 22 and top panels 23 having downturned flanges 24 on their sides and ends, and fitting within the border frames and fixedly secured thereto, desirably by spot Welding, not illustrated. The inner edges of the panels are turned inwardly at 25 to provide rounded end edges for the panels. The uprights 8 have coupling members 26 at their upper ends disposed on the inner sides of the flanges of the top panels and pivotally secured to the top frames by means of the through pivot rods 21. Spacers 28 are arranged on the rods between the coupling members 26.

The top members have downwardly projecting hinge members 29 secured to the inner sides of their frames and connected by the common pivot rod 30. The inner ends of the top members are supported by means of the link-like standards 3| which are pivotally mounted on the pivot rod 4 at the outer side of the base side members and pivotally engaged with the pivot rod 30. Slides 32 are mounted on these links 3!. The links are braced by the downwardly diverging braces 33 which are pivoted to the slides at 34 and to the side members of the base at 35.

To maintain the parts in erected position, I

sirably by means of a clip 46.

the top frame.

provide latches 36 which are pivotally mounted on the pivot rod 39 and provided with hook portions 31 engageable with the pin-like keepers 38 on the slides. The latches are connected by the cross rod 39. To release the latches, I provide a release rod 40 which is pivoted to one of the latches and hasan out-turned grip portion 4| disposed through a slot 42 in one of the links 3!. The slide 32 consists of an angled outer plate that slides along the outer sides and edges 2' of the links 3! and a fiat inner plate 32A that slides along the inner surfaces of the links. The spring 43 secured to the base frame at M and to the release rod 4 biases the latches to engaging position.

To facilitate the collapsing of the structure, I provide a pair of extension springs 55, each of which is connected atone end to one of the top members adjacent to but in spaced relation to its pivot (see Fig. 3), the connection being de- The outer ends of these springs are connected to the other top member at a point remote from the hinge connection and preferably on the opposite side of With this arrangement; the springs tend to collapse and hold the structure in collapsed position when the latches are released.

The top members are provided with rubber bumpers or cushion members 4'! having attaching strips 43 embedded therein. The cushion members have bores 49 extending from their attaching strips outwardly to receive attaching bolts 50; one of the bolts, as shown in Fig. 5,

also being passed through, the adjacent hinge member. The outer corners of the top panels in the'embodiment illustrated are cut away at 51 to provide hand openings 52, the frame with its cushion constituting corner hand holds 53. With this arrangement. of parts, I provide a structure which may be produced quite economically and which is strong and rigid when erected and may be easily collapsed and erected.

I have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain modifications or adaptations which I contemplate, as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. In a folding stretcher, the combination of a 1 running gear frame comprising pairs of longitudinally extending transversely spaced base members, said pairs being arranged in end to end relation and having downwardly offset coacting pivot cars at their inner ends, a pivot rod common to the said pivot ears, the adjacent ends of the base members having interengaging abutting ends when erected, transverse cross members connecting the outer ends of said base members and being rotatable with respect thereto, the cross members having fixed uprights at their ends, top members comprising border frames andpanels having downturned flanges on their outer edges disposed within and secured to said border frames, pivot rods extending between the side members of the top border frames pivotally engaging the upper ends of the uprights, spacers disposed on said last rods between said uprights, said top members having downwardly offset hinge members at their inner ends, a pivot rod common to said hinge members, top supporting links pivotally engaging said first mentioned pivot rod for said base members and said pivot rod for said top hinge members, slides on said links provided with keepers, diagonally disposed brace members pivotally connected to said slides and to said base members, spring biased latches pivotally mounted on said top hinge member pivot rod at the inner sides of said links to engage said keepers on said slides when the stretcher is erected, a spacer on said top hinge member pivot rod disposed between said latches, a connecting rod extending between said latches, a release rod connected to one of said latches and slidably engaged with one of said links, a pair of I extension springs each connected at its inner end to a top member in spaced relation to but adjacent its pivoted connection to the other top member, the outer ends of the springs being connected to the opposite top member remotely relative to the top hinge connections, and castor wheels mounted on the corners of said running gear frame.

2. In a folding stretcher, the combination of a running gear frame comprising pairs of longitudinally extending transversely spaced base members, said pairs being arranged in end to end relation and having downwardly ofiset coacting pivot cars at their inner ends, a pivot rod common to the said pivot ears, the adjacent ends of the base members having interengaging abutting ends when erected, transverse cross members connecting the outer ends of said base members and being rotatable with respect thereto, the cross members having fixed uprights at their ends. top members comprising border frames and panels having downturned flanges on their outer edges disposed within and secured to said border frames, pivot rods extending between the side members of the top border frames pivotally engaging the upper ends of the uprights, said top members having downwardly offset hinge members at their inner ends, a pivot rod common to said hinge members, top supporting links pivotally engaging said first mentioned pivot rodfor said base members and said pivot rod for said top hinge members, slides on said links provided with keepers, diagonally disposed brace members pivotally connected to said slides and to said. base members, spring biased latches pivotally mounted on said hinge member pivot rod at the inner sides of said links to engage said keepers on said slides when the stretcher is erected, a pair of extension springs each connected at its irmer end to a top member in spaced relation to but adjacent its pivoted connection to the other top member, the outer ends of the springs being connected to the opposite top member remotely relative to the top hinge connections, and castor wheels mounted on the corners of said running gear frame. r

3. In a folding stretcher, the combination of a running gear frame comprising facing U-shaped pivotally connected bases, the bases having uprights on each side spaced from their pivots and pivotally connected to the bases about axes parallel to the pivotal connection of the bases, .top

members comprising border frames and-panels elements of said bases, spring biased latches pivotally mounted on said hinge member pivot rod at the inner sides of'said links to engage said keepers on said slides when the stretcher is erected, a spacer on said top member pivot rod disposed between said latches, a connecting rod extending between said latches, a release rod connected to one of said latches and slidably engaged with one of said links, a pair of extension springs connected at their inner ends to a top member in spaced relation to but adjacent its pivoted connection to the other member, the outer ends of the springs being connected to the opposite top member remotely relative to the top hinge connections, and castor wheels mounted on the outer corners of said bases.

4. In a folding stretcher, the combination of a running gear frame comprising facing U-shaped pivotally connected bases, the bases having uprights on each side spaced from their pivots and pivotally connected to the bases about axes parallel to the pivotal connection of the bases, top members comprising border frames and panels having downturned flanges on their outer edges disposed within and secured to said border frames, pivotal connections for said uprights to the top members, said top members having downwardly offset hinge members at their inner ends, a pivot rod common to said hinge members, top supporting links pivotally connected to both said bases and said pivot rod for said top hinge members, slides on said links provided with keepers, diagonally disposed brace members pivotally connected to said slides and to the side elements of said bases, spring biased latches pivotally mounted on said hinge member pivot rod at the inner sides of said links to engage said keepers on said slides when the stretcher is erected, a pair of extension springs connected at their inner ends to a top member in spaced relation to but adjacent to its pivoted connection to the other member, the outer ends of the springs being connected to the opposite top member remotely relative to the top hinge connections, and castor wheels mounted on the outer corners of said bases.

5. In a folding stretcher, the combination of a base frame comprising sections pivotally connected at their inner ends and provided with uprights at their outer ends, said uprights being swingable about axes parallel to the pivotal connection of said base sections, top members pivotally connected to each other at their inner ends and pivotally connected to said uprights, links pivotally connected to said base members at their pivotal connection and to said top members at their pivotal connection, slides mounted on said links for vertical sliding movement thereon, diagonal brace rods pivotally connected to said slides and to said base sections, spring biased latches pivotally mounted on said top members at their pivotal connection, said slides being provided with keepers coacting with said latches when the stretcher is erected, connecting means for said latches whereby they are simultaneously operated, manually operated means for releasing said latches, depending castor socket arms mounted on said base frame at the outer corners thereof, said socket arms being nonrotatably connected to said uprights, and castor wheels provided with castor spindles journaled in said castor socket arms.

6. In a folding stretcher, the combination of a base frame comprising sections pivotally connected at their inner ends and provided with uprights at their outer ends, said uprights being swingable about axes parallel to the pivotal connection of said base sections, top members pivotally connected to each other at their inner ends and pivotally connected to said uprights, links pivotally connected to said base members at their pivotal connection and to said top members at their pivotal connection, slides mounted on said links for vertical sliding movement thereon, diagonal brace rods pivotally connected to said slides and to said base sections, spring biased latches pivotally mounted on said top members at their pivotal connection, said slides being provided with keepers coacting with said latches when the stretcher is erected, depending castor socket arms mounted on said base frame at the outer corners thereof, said socket arms being nonrotatably connected to said uprights, and castor wheels provided with castor spindles journaled in said castor socket arms.

IRA C. KLINGLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 614,176 Murray Nov. 1.5, 1898 970,877 Bernstein Sept. 20, 1910 1,761,233 Roe June 3, 1930 1,924,496 Herod Aug. 29, 1933 2,035,321 Koenigkramer et a1. Mar. 24, 1936 2,059,320 Dolge Nov. 3, 1936 

